How can spectra tell us what things are made of?

Stars and planets are too far away for a human to touch, yet we know what they are made of. Spectra make this possible! Let’s investigate how.

Bonus: What can we know about other solar system objects from their reflection spectra?

Spectrum Tool. Optional: Choose a second reflection spectrum of a non-Earth solar system object.

Spectrum Notebook. Answer the questions in the Bonus. What can we know about other solar system objects from their reflection spectra? section.

Source 1:
 
Brightness
Full-intensity spectrum backgroundTransparency increases or decreases based on chart intensity, hiding or revealing the background
Left axis ticks
Spectrum intensity vs wavelength chart
Bottom axis ticks
Wavelength (Microns)
Source 2:
 
Brightness
Full-intensity spectrum backgroundTransparency increases or decreases based on chart intensity, hiding or revealing the background
Left axis ticks
Spectrum intensity vs wavelength chart
Bottom axis ticks
Wavelength (Microns)